DS asked why there aren't many male teachers

[IndigoBell]

DS2 (Y3) asked why there weren't many male teachers.

He said "Is it because women are cleverer?"

:(

"Women who go into teaching are no longer of the same tip-top calibre as yesteryear because the pay is low."

Some "Women of Tip-Top Calibre" may choose to teach because it is what they love to do. They may be intelligent enough to realise that job satisfaction is not necessarily about how much you earn!

Some extremely intelligent Oxbridge First types (is this what the poster meant by Tip-Top Calibre?) may not make good teachers because they might lack the necessary communication skills etc!

At 22, childcare was the last thing on my mind.

Ten years later, I now have 2 dcs. Teaching is definitely not family friendly.

I don't think teaching is a family friendly profession or fits with childcare

Tell him "yes of course"

But really it's because primary teaching is considered low status low paid work.

My DS school HT is male and 2 male teachers. (8 classes)

My school (special ed) has male HT, male DHT, 1 male teacher and 1 male LSA. (10 teachers and 50 LSA's)

IME/O most male teachers tend to teach in secondary level? Maybe something to do with specialist subjects? I actually have no idea why though!

Sorry should have said DS school is juniors.

mrz, my sister is a primary school teacher and has three children, she finds it good because she doesn't need childcare during school holidays, yes she still has to do planning, marking etc. but she can do some of this when her children are in bed or busy playing. It's especially helpful for the 6 week summer break, very few other professions have that.

So she doesn't have to go into school during the holidays or attend meetings? Her children's school/s have the same 5 INSET days as hers? They are never ill or have any medical appointments in term time? They don't have sports days or nativity plays or events during the school day?

mrz, but all of those things are problems for pretty much any job. The benefits (school holidays etc) are still benefits, even if teaching isn't a solution to all the issues faced by working parents.

It is a great wrt childcare in the holidays. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to look at how working parents in other jobs have to manage.

In my junior school, 3 out of the 4 teachers I had were men. And when I started teaching in a junior school, there were 3 male teachers and the head was a man.

Very much the exception though.

I agree desertgirl teaching has exactly the same problems as other professions when it comes to childcare
TheFallenMadonna I was a working parent in another profession before becoming a teacher and my children would tell you they were better off then.

There are lots of male teachers in DS's Prep school - about 40%

DS had his first male form teacher this year and he has made a huge difference to DS. He always comes home talking enthusiasticly about what Mr Teacher said today in class. Usually something way outside the curriculum that grabbed their attention. He is very inspiring.

I specifically said wrt holidays. I work crazy hours in term time. But the holidays are a very significant benefit.

Agree with desertgirl, yes she still has those things, but so do all working parents. Where most parents would have to find five days childcare during half term, she needs to find one for example. Don't get me wrong, she works bloody hard, often preparing and marking late into the night whilst her children sleep, but she would agree that regarding childcare it is better than many jobs.

I still work crazy hours in the holidaysTheFallenMadona

I work, but not all day every day and most of the evening. And I do it at home, with my children. Which is rather nice.

mrz - really? For the whole six weeks of the summer to the extent that you have to find alternative childcare for your children?

While my holidays are my holidays iyswim i still have to pay my CM a proportion of her contracted hours to keep my dcs place, so the holidays aren't a massive benefit in that sense

I usually managed to find two completely free weeks out of the six when my children were younger.

"DS had his first male form teacher this year and he has made a huge difference to DS. He always comes home talking enthusiasticly about what Mr Teacher said today in class. Usually something way outside the curriculum that grabbed their attention. He is very inspiring"

Amazing things, penises. They give you such a wide perspective on the world. Vulvas are so limiting- all they can see is the National Crriculum.

My daughter's memories of holidays are sharing me with 49 other children

Erm, good point Seeker.

I know plenty of teacher who are equally as inspiring, even though they are unfortunately female.

mrz - but did you have to get childcare for the other four? I do work in the holidays, but manage to confine it to the evenings.

OK- I amnincredibly pro teacher. But what on earth are you doing if you're working all through the summer holidays?